Flying-machine.



Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

4 SHEETS SHEET 1,

K. A. GEORGE.

FLYING MACHINE.

APlLIoA'LIoN FILED maza. wu`

Patented Deo. 19, 1911.

K, A. GEORGE.

FLYING MACHINE,

APPMGATION FILEDFEB.23 IU1l 1,01 @$40. Pmemednec. 19,1911.

K. A. GEORGE.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2s, w11

4 1,012,540. Patented Deo.19,1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

- for sustaining the disabled machine.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KIMBER A. G-ERGE, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUQ.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters '.Patent'.

Application filed February 23, 1911. Serial No. 610,170.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KIMBER A. GEORGE, a citizen of the United States,residing at` New I-Iaven, in the county ofNew Haven andState ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fly-Aing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that type of fly- Ving machines wherein thestructure issupported bytwo planes, and provided with a mechanicalpropulsive means, and is controlled by the angle of incidence of certainof the planes.

The principal objects of my machine are to facilitate the suspension ofthe device; t`o improve the angle of incidence of the main planes; toutilize the atmosphere displaced by the propeller in sustaining themachine; to afford certain and easily operated balanc ing means; toprovide an effective and easily controlled means for steering andelevating the device; and t'o provide automatic meansy Other novelfeatures will be hereinafter pointed out in the description of thedevice.

To the above ends essentially my inven tion consists in such novelparts, and com binations, and arrangement of parts as are set forthinland fall within the scope of the appended claims. 4 y

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicatelike parts throughout the views, Figures 1 and 2 are front and planelevations respectively of my novel machine, a portion of the latterbeing shown broken away, Fig.` 3, a side elevation of the same,partially in section online a a of Fig. 2 Figs 4: and 5 a side view anda vertical central section respectively of my novel parachute mechanismin open and closed positions respectively. Fig. G, a side elevation ofthe same in inoperative or normal position, and Fig. 7, a top plan viewof the same.

In the drawings like'refercnce characters indicate like parts throughoutthe views.

The framework of my device comprises, a lower horizontal frame (3covered with' a fabric 7 to form a lower plane, and having an opencentral portion 8 to admit a car 9 which is fixed in any convenientmanner to the frame 6. The car 9 is open and of generally rectangularshape except that its for ward wall 11 Ais of rounded or pointed contourand is higher than the side walls 12 and the rear wall 13. The bottom14' of the car 'is downwardly inclined toward its rear. In

the rear end of this car is located a seat 16. Fixed to the front andrear of the frame 6 are respectively the usual hangers 17 and 18,carrying the axles 19 and 20 of the wheels 21 and 22 respectively, andsupported by braces 23, and by the thrust rods 25. The frame work alsoincludes arched supports 26 and 27 located centrally upon the front andrear ends of the frame 6, whose upper ends form a portion of a second'frame 29 covered with a fabric 30 to form an upper plane. This upperplane has anf utwardly curved or arcuate forward edge 32, and rearwardlyand inwardly directed side edges 33. This plane is inclined downwardlyfrom its front to its rear margins and includes a longitudinallydisposed arched portion or dome 34. The upper and lower frames aresupported by posts Tie rods 36 connect the upper portions' of the archsupports `2G with the supports 27, and have fixed` thereto transversebars 37 which carry .the motor or engine :38. to whose shaft 40 is xed apropeller 4:1.

The framework is rearwardly extended in alinement with the supports 2G,27 and com- Iprises side frames or arms 48, rigidly attached preferablyto the supports 27. Upon vertical pintles 50 in the arms 48 arerotatably mounted,.intermediate their lengths, forward of their centers,rudders 52 connected at their forward ends by a rod 55. Vertical rods 5Gin front of the rudders and forming parts of the frames l18 are providedwith eyes 57 through which pass the two operating cords 60 each attachedto the forward portions'of a rudder and extending thence to the eye uponthe opposite side of the frame 48 whereby the ,operating cords arecrossed and the control of the rudders is` frame (llt are interspaeedupwardly converg-p ing arms G7, and downwardly converging arms G9. Fromthe rear of the frame G4 extends a brace or arm 7l, meeting at the apexof the arms 67; while a similar brace or arm 72 connects the rear of theframe 64 with the Patented Dec. 19, 1911. u

' intersecting portion of the arms 69. ln an which arm is rotated by acrank handle 82 in the car.

fixed to an intermediate portion of the arm 80.

The rudder cords 60 have their ends attached to oppositely disposed arms83 upon the ends of a shaft 84 pivotally mounted in the'side walls ofthe car. A. foot plate 85 is xedupon an intermediate portion of theshaft 84 within reach of the foot of the operator.

Pivotally mounted by hinges 88 upon rods 89 constituting the ends of theupper plane 29 are balancing or gliding wings 91. Upon each hinge orsleeve 88 is an arm 93 to whose end is fixed a wire-01 rod 95attached'to a handle 96 pivotally mounted uponl a. post 97 The wings`91are of greater breadth at. their rear than in front, and curve-downwardly toward their back edges.

Invconjunction with my machine is an automatically operative safetydevice shown in detail in Figs. 4 o 7 inclusive. The device may beattached to the" framework in any convenient manner. of herein showncurved bases 100, 101, 102, 103 and 104 are Xed by rivets or otherwiseto two of the longitudinally disposed rods 105 constituting a part ofthe framework of the machine located in the portion 34 of the upperplane. The bases 100 and 103 are provided respectively with eyes 106 and107 engaging eyes 108 and 109 in the opposite ends of'an angular rod 110bent in the form of an'acute angle comprising a short portion 111 a longportion 112 and an acute bent portion 113. `Riveted or otherwise fixedat their lower ends to each of the bases 101,i

102, 4and 104 is a metallic or resilient strap 115 provided upon itsouter end with a loop 116. Each of the three last mentioned bases .hasnear one end parallel upright Vears 118 provided with perforations 119adapted to receive slidable pins 120 which pass loosely through thestrap loops 116 located between the' ears. Upon the outer nd of each pinis an eye 122 fixed to a continuous cord 123 which is slack between eachof the three pins and passes through an eye 125 upon a rearwardlydirected rod'126 ixed to the rear edge of the frame, and hencedownwardly and is fastened to an eye 128 upon one of the rods 27 withinreachof the operator.

Loose on the angular member is the eye i 130 upon the end of a exiblerod or strip 131 of a parachute 132. The p arachutemay In the formthere-- release be of any usual preferred construction. ln

the form thereof herein shown it comprises the usual collar 134 iiXednear the outer end of the rod to which collar are pivotally connectedthe radial ribs 136 to which is ixed the flexible cover 137. Mountedupon the stick 131 is the collar 138 to which are at tached the cords140 which engage the'ends 142 of the ribs. Fixed to the stick 131 in anyconvenient .manner is a ring 143 having `integral therewith' or attachedthereto a series of radially 'arranged outwardly inclined curved leafsprings 145 adapted, when the parachute is -closed, to be compressed bythe ribs 136. In normal or closed position the parachute and itsconnected parts are positioned as shown' in full lines in Figs. 6 and 7That is to say, the angle arm the dome portion of the upper plane, andthe eye 130 is positioned upon the forwardvportion of the angle armadjacent the eye 106.

.110 rests substantially horizontally upon The collapsed or folded bodyand the stick of the parachute rest upon the bases 101, 102, and 104 andare embraced by the resilient clasps 115. In the present instance thedome portion being curved and inclined the somewhat resilient characterof the para, chute stick is advantageous as it permits the parachutewhen in lashed position'to conform to the location of the bases. But itwill be understood that -neither an inclination nor a curvature of theupper plane is essential to the operation of my device.

In case of emergency the safety device is operated as follows. Theoperator pulls the cord 123 thus withdrawing the three pins 120 andreleasing the bands '115. Because of the slack of the cord between ythepins it will beA observed that the pins 120 are withdrawn in successionfrom rear to front of the plane. Thus the outer end of the parachute isfirst released and assumes the position shown in broken lines in Fig.6., and

the cover'or housing 137 somewhat subjecting the latter to the impact ofthe air due to the advance of the machine whereby the parachute isfullydistended, and the ring or eye 130 is forcedA up along the inclinedportion 112 of the angular arm 110 into the bend 113. The last describedmovement serves to elevate the member 110, and as the machine 'descendsthe parachute and the auxiliary parts assume-the ositions shown in Fig.4, thus preventing angerous speed in the descent of the disabledmachine.

AThe general operation of the machine is as follows. The rearward and.downward inclination of the upper-plane relatively to the lower planeinsures an increased `support from the air as the machine advances. Byvirtue of the dome or chute portion 34 of the upper plane the air set inmotion by the propeller blades 41 is forced or directed through theformer and this movement of the air affords an auxiliary power `forsustaining the machine, and lthis centrally directed air current alsoassists in balancing the machine. The machine is balanced further byelevating or lowering the wings 91 through the rods 95. The rudders 52are contro'lled by the operators feet acting upon the pivoted plateThese rudders by virtue of the rod 55 operate 1n unison; and, becausetheir pivotal points are somewhat 1n front of thelr centers, they arebalanced to be most effectively controlled and operated. ii

The elevating plane i is operated vthrough the cords 7 5 and 77 by-means of the crank handle 82 xedto the arm 80. By virtue of theextended portion 66 of the elevating plane a more perfect control of thelast mentioned plane is assured.

that I claim is,- l. In a flying machine, the combination with a frame,of two planes mounted in the frame one above the other, the upperplaneformed with an outwardly curved forward edge and rearwardlyandinwardly directed side edges,'said plane being inclined downwardly fromits front to its rear, and gliding wings o n the upper plane curved`downwardly toward their back edges.

2. In a flying machine, the combination lwith a frame, of two .planesmounted in the frame one above the other, the upper plane formed with anoutwardly curved -forward edge and rearwardly and inwardly directed sideedges, said plane being inclined down wardly from its front to its rearand having ing a longitudinally disposed arched-portion inclineddownwardly toward .the rear, glidingwings on the upper plane curveddownwardly toward their back edges, and a propeller mounted `in theframe forwardly of said arched portion and "in proximity thereto. 1 r ny y 4. In a-flyingrmaehine, the combination with a frame, Aof two planesmounted inthe .frame one above the other, the upper plane `formed withan outwardly curved forward edge and rearwardly and inwardly directedsaid edges, said plane being inclined downwardly from its front to its'rear and having a longitudinally disposed arched portion in clineddownwardly'toward the rear, a propeller mounted in the frame forwardlyof said arched portion and in proximity thereto, and glidlng wingspivotally mounted at the ends of the upper plane and curved downwardlytoward their back edges.

5. In a flying machine, Athe combination with a frame, of two planesmounted in the frame one above the other, the upper plane formed with anoutwardly curved forward edge and rearwardly and inwardly directed sideedges, said plane being inclined downwardly from its front to its rearand having a longitudinally disposed arched portion inclined downwardlytoward the rear, a propeller mounted in the frame forwardly of saidarched portion and in proximity thereto, and gliding wings pvotallymounted at the ends of the upper plane, said wings beingrot` greaterbreadth at their rear ends, said wings being curvedy downwardly towardtheirback edges.`

(l. In a flyingv machine7 the combination with the frame, of twotransversely disposed main planes mounted one above the other in thefori'ard portion of the frame, the upper plane having an arch portionlongitudinally disposed and inclined downwardly toward the rear toreceive the air currents to assist in balancing the machine, twovertical rudders pivotally mounted side by side in the rear portion ofthe frame, a rod connecting the rndders, means for operating theruddeirs, a horizontally disposed elevating plane pivotally mounted inthe frames in the rear of the rudders, upwardly and'downwardly extendingarms upon the horizontal plane, and operating cords attached to the endsof the arms,

7. In aV flying machine, the combination with the frame, of twotransversely disposed main planes mounted one above the other in theforward portion of the frame, the upper plane having an arch portionlongitudinally disposed and inclined downwardly toward the rear toreceive the air currents to assist in balancing the machine, twovertical rudders pivotally mounted side by side in the rear portion ofthe iframe, a rod connecting the rudders,'means for operating the rudfders, a horiz'iontally disposed elevating plane pivotally mounted in theframe in the rear of the rudders and extending between the rudders,upwardly and downwardly extend ing arms upon the horizontal plane, a carmounted in the forward portion ofthe frame, a studin the car, an armpivotally mounted upon the stud, and cords connecting the ends of thelast mentioned arm with the ends' of the arms upon the horizontal plane.4

`8. In a Aflying machine, the combination with aframe and a plane havinga downwardly and rearwardly inclined arch portion and an angle armextending in the di- 'rection of the length of said archportion forconnecting said plane to a parachute.

9. In a flying machine, a frame, an upper plane having a downwardlyinclined arch portion and means on s'aid arch portion for the connectionof a parachute, said means being of angular form disposed lengthwise ofsaid arch portion and constructed to a1- low the parachute toautomatically adjust its position relative to the angle assumed by saidplane.

Lola-54o 10. In a flying machine, the combination with the frame and aplane carried thereby, of an arm carried by said plane bent in the formof an acute angle and foldably mount- 15 ed on. said plane.

In testimony whereof I have afliXed vmy signatureinpresence'of twowitnesses.-

KIMBER A. GEORGE.

Witnesses: v

' HORATIO E. BELLoWs,

GEORGE H. MCLAUGHLIN.V

